Techniques for enhanced network discovery

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising retrieving a first network scan while connected to a second network access point (AP), without actually accessing the air, by the AP sending a message to “Get first network base station (BS) list” to devices in communication with the AP and operable to communicate in the first and the second networks, merging by the AP all answers from the devices to provide a list of all base stations (BS&#39;s) in the AP&#39;s vicinity, and querying the AP by other devices for the network BS list.

BACKGROUND

Wireless Multicomm devices may include a network adapter that combines more then one wireless technology (each wireless technology may be referred as a ‘comm’). The different wireless comms might share some of the hardware components on the device (such radio, antennas etc). Sharing hardware components might limit the usage of the device in a way that at a given time, only one of the wireless comms can use the hardware to transmit or receive. On other platforms there might be two separate comms (for example, but not limited to, networks conforming to the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineer's (IEEE) 802.16 (WiMAX) network and networks conforming to the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) network), that does not share any HW components, but still the ability of both comms to transmit and receive simultaneously might be limited due to mutual (RF) interference.

Thus, a strong need exists for techniques for enhanced network discovery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an algorithm according to one embodiment of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the preset invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “establishing”, “analyzing”, “checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) of a computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories or other information storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes.

Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, for example, “multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “a plurality” may be used throughout the specification to describe two or more components, devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. For example, “a plurality of stations” may include two or more stations.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for retrieving the WiMAX network scan while connected to a WiFi AP, without actually accessing the air. Looking at FIG. 1, shown generally as 100, is the flow of an embodiment of the present invention:

1. Optional>When a device associates to AP 110, it reports its capabilities as a “multicomm” device 125 (again it is understood that this is an optional feature of the present invention). Also optional is the AP 110 reporting itself as supporting WiMAX network discovery 130. These messages may happen in any order and, in an embodiment of the present invention, may be part of an 802.11 association process (or embedded in proprietary information elements, or in a separate message).

2. The AP 110 sends the message “Get WiMAX BS list” to a device, such as a wireless station. Some of the stations will have such a list when the command arrives, and some will not.

3. The AP can merge all answers from different devices to a “full” picture of all base stations in its vicinity 155.

4. Other devices, such as other wireless stations, may query the AP for “WiMAX BS List” 160 (it can do this for example when its link quality drops, and there is no WiFi roaming candidates, or when user pressed the WiMAX scan button 145). Since the AP is fixed (as is the BS), over time the AP will have full and accurate WiMAX BS list in its vicinity. At 165 the AP responds with the WiMAX network list.

5. The device can use the received list to optimize its scanning algorithm and its power consumption—if the BS received from the AP is fresh enough, it may be presented to the user, if not the list may be used to do a WiMax scan according to the parameters in the list ensuring it will be short and efficient.

Embodiments herein described may shorten the handover moving from WiFi to WiMAX (save scanning). Further, it can be used to avoid “scan while work” scanning in multicomm device. (This might degrade WiFi performance). Lastly, it may save WiMAX Idle Power (single handshake with AP instead of WiMAX scan).

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

1. An method, comprising: retrieving a first network scan while connected to a second network access point (AP), without actually accessing the air, by said AP sending a message to “Get first network base station (BS) list” to devices in communication with said AP and operable to communicate in said first and said second networks; merging by said AP all answers from said devices to provide a list of all base stations (BS's) in said AP's vicinity; and querying said AP by other devices for said network BS list.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first network is a network conforming to the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineer's (IEEE) 802.16 (WiMAX) network and said second network is a networking conforming to the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) network and said list of all base stations is a WiMAX BS list.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising reporting by said devices when they associate with said AP their capabilities as multicomm devices.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein some of said devices will have a list of BSs and some will not.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein said devices query said AP for said WiMAX BS List when their link quality drops, and there is no WiFi roaming candidates, or when a user presses a WiMAX scan button.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein said devices use said received WiMAX BS list to optimize their scanning algorithm and power consumption.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein if said WiMAX BS list received from said AP is fresh enough it can be presented to a user of said devices and, if not, said WiMAX BS list can be used to do a WiMax scan according to parameters in said WiMAX BS list ensuring it will be short and efficient.
 8. An apparatus, comprising: a wireless device operable to communicate in a first wireless network and a second wireless network, wherein said first wireless network is adapted to retrieve a first network scan while said wireless device is connected to a second network access point (AP), without actually accessing the air, by said AP sending a message to said wireless device to “Get first network base station (BS) list”; and merging by said AP all answers from said wireless device and any other wireless devices in communication with said AP to provide a list of all base stations (BS's) in said AP's vicinity.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first network is a network conforming to the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineer's (IEEE) 802.16 (WiMAX) network and said second network is a networking conforming to the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) network and said list of all base stations is a WiMAX BS list.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising reporting by said wireless device when it associates with said AP of it's capabilities as a multicomm device.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein some of said other wireless devices will have a list of BSs and some will not.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said wireless device queries said AP for said WiMAX BS List when it's link quality drops, and there is no WiFi roaming candidates, or when a user presses a WiMAX scan button.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said wireless device uses said received WiMAX BS list to optimize its scanning algorithm and power consumption.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein if said WiMAX BS list received from said AP is fresh enough it can be presented to a user of said wireless device and, if not, said WiMAX BS list can be used to do a WiMax scan according to parameters in said WiMAX BS list ensuring it will be short and efficient.
 15. A machine-accessible medium that provides instructions, which when accessed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising: retrieving a first network scan while connected to a second network access point (AP), without actually accessing the air, by said AP sending a message to “Get first network base station (BS) list” to devices in communication with said AP and operable to communicate in said first and said second networks; merging by said AP all answers from said devices to provide a list of all base stations (BS's) in said AP's vicinity; and querying said AP by other devices for said network BS list.
 16. The machine-accessible medium of claim 15, wherein said first network is a network conforming to the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineer's (IEEE) 802.16 (WiMAX) network and said second network is a networking conforming to the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) network and said list of all base stations is a WiMAX BS list.
 17. The machine-accessible medium of claim 16, further comprising said instructions causing said machine to perform operations further comprising reporting by said devices when they associate with said AP their capabilities as multicomm devices.
 18. The machine-accessible medium of claim 16, wherein some of said devices will have a list of BSs and some will not.
 19. The machine-accessible medium of claim 16, wherein said devices query said AP for said WiMAX BS List when their link quality drops, and there is no WiFi roaming candidates, or when a user presses a WiMAX scan button.
 20. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, wherein said devices use said received WiMAX BS list to optimize their scanning algorithm and power consumption.
 21. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, wherein if said WiMAX BS list received from said AP is fresh enough it can be presented to a user of said devices and, if not, said WiMAX BS list can be used to do a WiMax scan according to parameters in said WiMAX BS list ensuring it will be short and efficient. 